Political strength (number of MEPs x cohesion x level of participation) of groups in the European Parliament: all policy areas 14 July 2009 to 13 June 2013. Source: VoteWatch Europe

A study by the London School of Economics shows the Conservatives in the European Parliament are weak and marginalised. The bigoted anti-women, anti-gay and anti-green views within the Conservative group’s odd collection of fringe parties clash with London’s openness. Indeed, since January 2013 in two votes out of three, the Conservatives’ group sided with UKIP’s.

VoteWatch Europe’s data reveals that the UKIP and Tory lead candidates in London have missed so many roll call votes they are in the bottom 10 per cent of MEPs. London deserves your MEPs in the top 10 per cent.

As for the Liberals’ EU group, the British and Germans currently form the largest delegations: but YouGov surveys suggest only 1 in 4 of those who intended to vote LibDem in 2010 now intend to do so. In Germany’s 2009 General Election, Liberals had won 93 seats, but they lost every single one in 2013. London needs not a declining but a strong growing voice.